I'm seeing examples in the news where people's rights are being or may be taken away, whether it's the right to live while not wearing a headscarf, or the right to have children without being taxed yearly because of their very existence (carbon footprints, y'know), but for homeschoolers, the decision of a German court (h/t Dana) in the case of a family that wishes to homeschool their children is a definite blow to their rights, and the rights of all parents there. Here's a quote from the decision:
"The mental and emotional welfare of the children is lastingly endangered because the first Party rejects and hinders the school education which is important for the development of the children in a pluralistic society. It is a moot point whether the home education of the children ensures an adequate transfer of knowledge, as children should also grow up in communal life."
Then there's some gibberish about "tolerance, the ability to stand up for oneself and to uphold a conviction that dissents with that of the majority." Hullo, isn't that just what the parents were trying to do in this case? Uphold their convictions to homeschool in dissent of the majority of Germans? Guess you can only stand up for yourself until the State squashes you down.
I'm reminding myself that God has allowed evil rulers to unleash evil in certain areas for a season, and that He is with us no matter what principalities and powers may do. For I know very well that there are people in this country who would agree with this court decision, who want the State to have the ultimate authority over parents. May God protect and keep us.
4 comments:
You Bring up a good point. They say they want people who stand up for their convictions and yet the parents are being punished for doing exactly that. I have heard of this case before, but didn't know it had been decided. So did they give them their daughter back? (Assuming this is the family where they took the daughter away). Germany says they are a free country, but they are very close to socialism. Very close. You're right, lack of freedom is in a lot of places in this world. It makes me wonder about America. There's nowhere perfect.
Miss Sniz, the mother and at least the two kids who were being homeschooled in this family were living in Austria. There are several families who have been fighting German homeschool laws.
Do you know why Germany has laws against homeschooling? It's a holdover law from the Nazi era. The Nazis forbid families from homeschooling because the government wanted to have total control over the shaping of young minds. The wanted the children in publish state run schools to raise them to be good Nazis. They never struck the law from the books.
Sad isn't it...
DMG, I did read that about why the Germans have laws about compulsory schooling. I've also read that the basic German mentality is that the law comes above everything else. Obviously there are exceptions to that....
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